New Delhi: The Union Ministry for Culture on Thursday announced that it will organize spiritual programs in 75 prisons across the country, starting from August 12.
“On the occasions of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Maharshi Aurobindo and the 75th Year of Independence, the Ministry of Culture is commemorating the life and philosophy of Sri Aurobindo by undertaking Spiritual Programmes in 75 prisons across the nation between August 12 and 15,” the Ministry said in a statement.
The purpose of these programs is to ‘transform’ the lives of prison inmates through the inculcation of the philosophy of Sri Aurobindo, and by the practice of yoga and meditation, it said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that there is a need for the transformation of the life of inmates in jails through self-thinking and realization, and prisons all across the country should organize programs on the life of Maharishi Aurobindo so as to enable the inmates to embark upon a new journey of life, the release said.
To this effect, the Ministry of Culture has partnered with notable spiritual leaders and organizations to carry out these programs. It has identified 75 prisons across the nation, (primarily keeping in mind their association with the national freedom struggle) where these programs shall take place, it said.
Five organizations, including Ramakrishna Mission, Patanjali, Art of Living, Isha Foundation, and Satsang Foundation have been roped into conducting the programs in 23 states to facilitate yoga, meditation, and imparting of teachings of Sri Aurobindo to prison inmates, it added.
